Barn Find e21 316 (Well Garage!)

[BomberHarris]

Hi Guys, sorry for this being my 1st post but after some advice..............

Long story short, my mum and step dad have been approached by a friend who has a 1983 BMW 316 to get rid of. He is quite elderly and has had the car for years and will no longer be driving. I have had it offered to me but I want to offer a fair price but obviously get it as cheap as possible!!!
I have come to the conclusion it is an e21 316, but thats all I know as although I have always had German motors, they have always been from the VAG stable.

Can you give me an idea of what it would be worth in A) current condition and B) When its finished......

Details are (as i see it!)
BMW E21 316
125k miles, no MOT
Bit of rust on inner lips on front arches and where the fuel filler tube runs through the rear wing it has a hole which will need plating.

Interior is a brown velour and is pretty much perfect, blaupunkt stereo etc.
Has the original tool kit in the drop down flap in the boot, again all intact and like new. Boot floor and door shuts look like new.
Runs a bit rough, could do with a new set of plugs and leads and a good run i guess, but started fine with no smoke, not bad for a 6 month stand up in the garage.

All in all its a clean, original unmolested example which I'm thinking of running with but just looking for some advise.

Look forward to your views, good or bad!!
Thanks
Matt

[Jeroen]

Welcome here bomber Matt! I guess the UK guys can help you out a little bit better and also know the UK market, but for all of us a few photos would make things easier although the description is one of a car in a pretty good condition. What build is it?

[e21-Mark]

Hi mate & welcome. It's hard to put a value on a car without seeing it but a 316 with no MOT is usually just a few hundred quid. I just bought a fairly solid one with 5 months MOT and a Weber conversion for £205 off Ebay though so there are bargains to be had. Really. it's worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it? A nice, tidy car with T&T, alloys etc can make between £1200 and £2000 for something really nice. Mind you, at the top end you start getting into 6 cylinder car money.

What are your plans for it? There are some lovely cars in the gallery section to give you some ideas. A lowered e21 on decent rims is a good look.

Anyway, look forward to seeing some photos.

[BomberHarris]

Thanks for the warm welcome, no photos at present as it is tucked up in the garage and I cant get it out due to all the rubbish piled outside the door.

One thing I did notice was the clutch seemed to bite quite high up the pedal, normal with these or something to worry about?

There was no real plan, mother asked if I'd be interested, had a look and it seems a nice straight older vehicle. Was thinking of either running it as is for a while and see how it goes or dropping it on a set of springs and nice alloys. Nowt that couldnt be undone anyway.

As said before I know nothing about BMW's other than I think the older shark nose styling is nicer than the new round things.
Will be trying to strike a deal with the owners son tomorrow. fingers crossed.

Laters
Matt

[e21-Mark]

Good luck getting it Matt. This is the one I bought a couple of weeks back and hopefully it will be back on here looking a little less tired, fairly soon.

[BomberHarris]

Hi guys, well i had a chat with the owners nephew and he appears to be under the impression the car is worth a fortune. He is going to get a specialist valuation so we'll have to wait and see what he comes back with. To be honest it aint looking too good and might not be worth all the effort, with will be a shame, one for the car and also for the old fella who obviously looked after the vehicle so well.

Will let you know the outcome, if there is one!!

Cheers
Matt

[E21meister]

Show him some eBay ads for some cheap one, maybe he'll see the error of his ways. Either that, or go back to him in 6 months when his 'worth a fortune' car is still sitting on his driveway. And welcome to the forum, fella.

P.S. Mark, are your neighbours used to all your E21 chums rolling up to your gaff by now, you must have had several dozen park up outside your manor over the past few years!

[tommi_e21]

my neighbours hate us with all our BMW's

[340i]

that is an awesome photo!

[Pho21_girl]

my neighbours hate us with all our BMW's

Ben/Tommi I hope you're starting a thread somewhere on the 2002? I wanna see it!

[tommi_e21]

Im afriad project 2002 is under wraps mostly.

we havent actually done any work on it yet except swim around in the puddles in the footwells

[Pho21_girl]

Shame, what's that green thing in my old parking space? lol
Let me know when work does start on the project

[tommi_e21]

green car is the panzer - its mucho green when its clean

[Pho21_girl]

Lol i know it's the panzer, i was joking...

[BomberHarris]

All good things come to those who wait.............it appears that the owners nephew now realises it aint worth the Ferrari 250 Dino money he was hoping for!!!

Gonna pop over the weekend and have a proper ganders, make an offer and go from there.

Keep you posted.